Riverbend, Chattanooga’s original music festival, announced their daily lineup for this year’s festival. With performances scheduled for the Coca-Cola, Bud Light, and Chevrolet stages, this year’s lineup features over 20 acts, from local fan favorites to legendary performers.
Review for the performers:
Chattanooga favorite son Leslie Jordan will come to the festival by the Tennessee River and then ride through the crowd in a classic Chevrolet Corvair to open the three-day party serving as grand marshall of a one-car parade as only he can do. The comedian will be making appearances on stage, as well as visit with festival goers throughout the festival.
Country duo Brothers Osborne will headline the festival on June 3. Performers for the evening include Bexar, which has accumulated over 25 million streams to date and is set to release new music later this year, along with Devon Gilfillian, known for his hip-hop, rock, blues and soul music. The evening will also feature Elle King who will bring her unique blend of country, soul, rock and blues to the festival. She recently recorded a new track called Drunk (And I don’t Wanna Go Home). Indie Rock vocalist Jenny Lewis, country music singer and songwriter Kendell Marvell, and local favorite Rick Rushing will complete Friday’s lineup.
Saturday’s show features headliner band Cage the Elephant. Cage the Elephant won the Grammy Award for Best Rock Album twice, in 2017 for Tell Me I’m Pretty and in 2020 for Social Cues. Also taking the stage on Saturday is Grace Potter, who will bring her bluesy rock vocals to the stage with a voice that is often compared to Bonnie Raitt or Lucinda Williams.
One of the area’s favorite bands Moon Taxi, was originally booked for last year’s festival and not only will be on stage Saturday night, but will also be playing a second set that is an ode to Rage Against the Machine, with surprise guests that have yet to be announced. Country singer/songwriter Niko Moon’s track, “Good Time” will set the stage for a performance by an adventurous artist, writer and musician with an enduring optimism and a flair for challenging boundaries.
Strung Like a Horse will take the stage featuring their signature Americana sound and fiery hot high energy show, and The Communicators Present “That 90s Show” will wrap up Saturday’s lineup.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit will be closing the festival on June 5. Isbell’s musical roots are in Muscle Shoals and he notes, "The soul music that came out of there, and a lot of the soul-influenced rock and roll and country music that came out of the studios in north Alabama in the 1960s and 1970s had a big influence on me.”
Sunday’s performances also include an act that should be on the ‘not-to-be-missed’ list, Brittney Spencer, named by Spotify Hot Country as an ‘Artist to Watch’ and by CMT as one of the Next Women of Country. Her recent single, Sober and Skinny has drawn praise from the New York Times and Rolling Stone.
Another fan favorite is Gov’t Mule featuring Southern rock jam music. Also taking the stage will be Los Amigos Invisibles who will bring a blend of disco, acid jazz, and funk to the stage through their mixed Latin rhythms.
Lenox Hills’s music focuses on rock influences from the 1970s to the 1990s and is guaranteed to keep the crowd on their feet. And for audiences looking for a group featuring playfully poised choreography attired in tailored velour, vinyl, and sequined jumpsuits as they swing from futuristic sensibility vocals to throwback supper club gestures, The Shindellas will put on a great show that will keep the crowd begging for more.
The Magi will take the stage bringing a positive and encouraging musical experience to uplift souls and inspiration to a wide-variety of audiences. Their sound mixes bass grooves, beatboxing, acoustic guitar and soul-felt vocals to create an organic sound all their own.
Another not-to-be-missed act is The War & Treaty, described as “two lovebirds without reverb”. The duo has shared stages with Brandi Carlile, Elvis Costello and performed at the 2020 Grammys. Winding up the three-day festival lineup is the legendary Tanya Tucker who is celebrating 50 years of performing country music. Her While I’m Livin’ album is described by the Wall Street Journal as one that both reaffirms her range of abilities and reclaims her many sides.
Mitchell Hall, director of Operations for the festival shared that in looking at cost comparisons, Chattanooga’s original music festival is still one of the best deals in the region when it comes to pricing. He said, “A one day pass to Bonnaroo is $319, while two days at Moon River can range from $216 to $320 for entry. A two-day pass to Shaky Knees will range from $220 to $430 and Music Midtown’s general admission prices range from $145 to $305. We priced our tickets to re-introduce the region to the new Riverbend. Our smaller venue with enriched experiences, food offerings, and a new marketplace will show that not only is this a new festival, it’s one that Chattanoogans will support in coming years.”
While there are still remaining wristbands for the three-day festival at $95, there are limited numbers of wristbands for each one-night performance. One day wristbands will cost $75. “We’ve limited the number of festival-goers to 15,000, which means we’ve also limited the number of wristbands available for each evening. Because of this, it will be important to purchase wristbands as quickly as possible to make sure you catch your favorite performers,” said Mr. Hall.
Riverbend Executive Director Mickey McCamish said, “This year’s festival is the beginning of a new chapter for Riverbend. The new experience will feature artisans offering items at our specially curated market, healthier food options, and craft beer to accompany some of our more traditional fare. Our corporate village will bring folks right down to the river’s edge and buskers will be on site to provide another level of entertainment experience. But what brings people to Riverbend is a great line-up of talented performers. We believe we’ve captured a list of performers that will set the tone for the coming years for the festival. We couldn’t be more pleased.”